Shadow-letter production for educational and commercial purposes



May 7, 1929. F. J. WILKINS 1,712,371

SHADOW LETTER PRQDUCTION FOR EDUCAT'iONAL AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES Filed AprilSO. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGI INVENTOR.

HTTORNEY y 1929. F. J. WILKINS 5 371 SHADOW LETTER PRODUCTION FOR EDUCATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES Filed April 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hrroawsx Patented May 7, 1929.

tJNlTED STA'IEEZS rarest orrica i FRANK J. WILKIINS, (It CINCINNATI, OHIO;

SHADOW-LETTER PRODUCTION FOR EDUCATIGNAL AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

Application filed April 30, 1926. Serial No. 105,765.

. to make said signs with larger letters, higher oil till

or wider orfmake slant lines of letters and words. It is also quite a task for individuals or groups oi boys and girls to prepare signs for a banquet, toot ball game, college meet, school entertainment and affairs of this class to get out the proper signs or cards. I obviate all these objections and inconveniences and produce simple, cheap and highly eliicient means for the production of signs, lettering, show cards or any kind of letter printing or painting by the production of shadow letters which fall upon the blank canvas, card or element upon which the sign is to be produced, and all that is necessary is to fill in an outline for the letters and then use any kind of plain or ornamental style of body painting of the letters, that is, solid black, striped, skeleton, partly shaded letters, or any style desired. 4

I may also produce shadow effects of conventional or other figures or patterns, or scenes, or pictures of animals, birds, houses or the subject matter of lectures, addresses or the like. The subject matter of school teachings may be enlarged by the pupils and be a means of retaining same on the mind of the child. 1

The features and advantages of the invention will readily become apparent from the following specification and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of my invention in detail as to the production of shadow letters,

Fig. 2, is a view in elevation of the letter carrying frame,

Fig. 3, is a section taken on the line 3--8 of Fig. 2,

Fig. a, is a similar view as that shown in Fig. 2, the top of the frame broken away,

however, showing some diagonal or slanting lines and lettering,

Fig. 5, is an isometric view of one of: the frame supporting blocks, and Fig. 6, is a view ot a letter of the alphabet enlarged to show that larger letters can be used and letters having double outline for shading purposes. i I will now describe one form or system for carrying my invention into etlcct. provide a rectangular frame, composed of two side strips 1., 1, and a bottom strip 2 and a top strip 3, suitably held and joined together and supported in blocks 4, 4, which act as feet for supporting the frame, the frame resting in recesses 5 in said blocks.

This frame maybe made of any other style or shape. 1 1n the side strip 1, 1, I place nails, brads or the like 6, generally equidistant apart and allowing same to extend somewhat outwardly from the sides.

I stretch across, from one side to the other, a thin cord or strong heavy thread 7, begin ning at the top; tie the cord or thread on the top nail, then draw the cord across to the opposite nail on the other side rail and over the first nail and continue this drawing of the cord across from one nail to the other until all the nails have been engaged and the cord appears like a lattice work on the frame.

In order to construct the words or pattern to print from, take the style letter desired and set the words wanted onto the strings or cords 7 The letters are attached as shown in Fig. 3, particularly, the lettersbeing marked 8, that is, they are placed so that some of the strands of cord 7 will be at the front of the letter and some will pass over the back of said letter in order to hold them from tallingand to keep them in alignment; in other words, it the first letter is placed through the strings with the top and bottom of the letter under the first and third string, then the next letter will be arranged with the letter over the first and third strings, and when the line of lettering is finished and the letters evenly spaced, continue to the next line until your intended sign wording is completed on the strings; as many strings can be skipped as desired for proper spacing.

In Fig. 1, it will be observed that I have a card,canvas, linen or any kind of material as 9 hung up, and the frame itself is placed before the same, and alight as 10 is placed in front of the said frame or screen, so that the I usually letters 8 on string upon the frame which con- 'sists ofthe word Shadow are thrown upon the material 9, that is, the shadow of the letters on the frame are thrown upon said material 9, as a shadow; all that is necessary for the operator is to outline the shadow letters on material9 and then they can be filled in in any manner desired; this can be repeated any number of times, or anew sign placed on the frame, the shadow of which can be thrown upon the material 9. The rays and beams of light coming from light source 10 work need be done on the outside and in the open.

It "will be understood that the room in which the work is done should be darkened to a degree and the light need not be too strong. If the sunlight is used the screen or frame can .be placed in the open door or in the \vindow'.

It will be perfectly apparent that the screen may be placed overhead or at any angle to obtain the desired result.

.The size of the shadow letters can be regulated, as if the light source is close up' to the frame or screen the letters will get large or very large and if the light is farther away, smaller in proportion.

My invention on account of its use for con mereial purposes; educational work and. for amusement, gives it a high degree of utility.

I do not confine myself to specific details but may change and modify to some degree and I claim any modifications which fall within this specification and claims.

hat I claim as new and my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for use in shadow letter production and to be placed between a light source and a screen, coi'nprising an open frame, substantially parallel slender cords tautly stretched across the frame, and flat characters threaded through said cords, parts of certain characters m 'erIying one cord and underlying other adjacent cords.

2. A device for use in shadow letter production to be placed between a light source and ascreen, comprising an open frame, substantially parallel slender cords tautly stretched across the frame, fiat characters threaded through the cords and frictionally'supported by the latter, one character overlying a first cord, and underlying a second and third cord, and an adjacent character underlying the first cord and overlying the second and third cords.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature at Cincinnati, Ohio, this 19th day of April, 1926.

FRANK J. WILKINS. 

